Best NEMA 17 Stepper Motors
Updated How we research
Usongshine Nema 17 Stepper Motor 42BYGH 1.8 Degree 38MM 1.5A 17HS4401S 42N.cm with Cable
Usongshine Nema 17 stepper motor 42BYGH, 1.8 degree, 38MM body, 1.5A 17HS4401S rated 42N.cm with cable.
Usongshine 5pcs Nema17 Stepper Motor 48MM 42BYGH 1.7A 17HS8401 4-Lead for 3D Printer CNC
Usongshine 5pcs Nema17 stepper motors, 48MM 42BYGH at 1.7A, 17HS8401 4-lead for 3D printers and CNC.
NEMA 17 describes a mounting flange, not a motor, so two steppers with the same designation can differ by a factor of three in what they will do. Holding torque is the first number to read and it is quoted in newton centimeters: a 42 N.cm motor in a 38 to 48 millimeter body is the general-purpose choice for X and Y axes and a Z lead screw, while a 13 N.cm short-body motor exists for a different reason entirely, which is to keep mass off a direct-drive extruder where every gram of toolhead weight shows up as ringing in your prints. Do not fit the small one to an axis and do not fit the big one to a moving toolhead. Rated current is the second number and it has to suit your driver, since motors in this class run from about 1.0 up to 1.7 amps and setting a driver above what a motor is rated for cooks the windings while setting it below loses torque and causes skipped steps. Body length correlates directly with torque, so a 48 millimeter motor pulls harder than a 38 millimeter one at the same current and also weighs more. Step angle is effectively fixed at 1.8 degrees, meaning 200 full steps per revolution, and microstepping in the driver does the rest. Four-lead bipolar wiring is standard; count the wires if a listing is vague. Geared versions with a planetary reduction around five to one trade speed for large torque gains and suit an extruder or a heavy Z, not a fast axis.
The short version
We compared 7 picks. Our scores range from 7.6 to 8.8 out of 10.
- Best overall:Usongshine Nema 17 Stepper Motor 42BYGH 1.8 Degree 38MM 1.5A 17HS4401S 42N.cm with Cable. Highest overall score in this guide at 8.8/10.
- Also great value:Usongshine 5pcs Nema17 Stepper Motor 48MM 42BYGH 1.7A 17HS8401 4-Lead for 3D Printer CNC. Value score of 9/10, overall 8.8/10.
- Solid build:Usongshine Nema17 Stepper Motor 17HS4401 with T8 Screw Lead 8mm 300mm/400mm 42BYGH. Build and materials score of 8/10, overall 8.6/10.
- Feature-rich:Usongshine Nema 17 Geared Stepper Motor Gear Ratio 5.18:1 Planetary Gearbox for 3D Printer CNC. Features score of 9/10, overall 8.3/10.
Scores are our editorial assessment, not customer ratings. How we score
- 1.Usongshine Nema 17 Stepper Motor 42BYGH 1.8 Degree 38MM 1.5A 17HS4401S 42N.cm with Cable8.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 2.Usongshine 5pcs Nema17 Stepper Motor 48MM 42BYGH 1.7A 17HS8401 4-Lead for 3D Printer CNC8.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 3.Usongshine Nema17 Stepper Motor 17HS4401 with T8 Screw Lead 8mm 300mm/400mm 42BYGH8.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 4.Usongshine Nema 17 Stepper Motor 1.5A 17HS4401 High Torque 42N.cm 42BYGH 1.8 Degree 38MM8.4/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 5.Usongshine Nema 17 Geared Stepper Motor Gear Ratio 5.18:1 Planetary Gearbox for 3D Printer CNC8.3/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 6.Usongshine Nema 17 Stepper Motor for Titan Extruder 3D Printer 13Ncm 4 Lead 17HS4023 (5 Pack)7.8/10See on AmazonCheck price
- 7.Usongshine Nema 17 Bipolar Step Motor for 3D Printer Extruder CNC 1A 13Ncm 17HS4023 (5 Pack)7.6/10See on AmazonCheck price
#1Usongshine Nema 17 stepper motor 42BYGH, 1.8 degree, 38MM body, 1.5A 17HS4401S rated 42N.cm with cable.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + 1.8 degree step angle is the standard for printer motion axes
- + 42N.cm holding torque handles X, Y and extruder duties well
- + Cable included, which speeds up replacement installs
- - Cable connector should be checked against your board's pinout
- - 1.5A current needs driver tuning to avoid overheating
#2Usongshine 5pcs Nema17 stepper motors, 48MM 42BYGH at 1.7A, 17HS8401 4-lead for 3D printers and CNC.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 9/10
- + 48MM body length offers more torque for heavy beds or Z axes
- + 5pcs pack equips a complete printer or CNC build
- + 4-lead bipolar wiring works with common stepper drivers
- - Longer, heavier motors add weight when used on moving toolheads
- - 1.7A rating may run hot on drivers without cooling
#3Usongshine Nema17 17HS4401 stepper motor with an integrated T8 lead screw, 8mm lead in 300mm or 400mm lengths.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + Integrated T8 lead screw removes the need for a separate coupler
- + 300mm and 400mm options fit Ender-size and taller Z axes
- + Fixed screw reduces wobble caused by misaligned couplers
- - A bent screw means replacing the whole motor assembly
- - Length variant must match your frame height exactly
#4Usongshine Nema 17 stepper motor 17HS4401 at 1.5A with high torque 42N.cm, 42BYGH, 1.8 degree and 38MM.
Fit for the job 9/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + High torque 42N.cm suits Y axis beds and extruder motors
- + 38MM body is a common size that fits most printer mounts
- + 17HS4401 model is a widely used drop-in replacement
- - Check whether a matching cable is included before ordering
- - Single motor listing may cost more per unit than multi-motor packs
#5Usongshine Nema 17 geared stepper motor with a 5.18:1 planetary gearbox for printer extruders and CNC.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 9/10 · Build and materials 8/10 · Value 8/10
- + 5.18:1 planetary reduction greatly multiplies extruder torque
- + Geared output gives fine control for flexible or high-flow filaments
- + Also useful for CNC and robotics projects needing torque
- - Gearbox adds weight and length to a direct drive toolhead
- - Planetary gears can add small backlash to retractions
#6Usongshine Nema 17 stepper motors for Titan extruders, 13Ncm 4 lead 17HS4023 in a 5 pack.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 8/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Short pancake-style motor saves weight on direct drive toolheads
- + Matched to Titan extruders that use geared reduction
- + 5 Pack supplies several extruders or spares
- - 13Ncm torque is too low for direct ungeared extrusion
- - Not suited for bed or gantry axes needing more torque
#7Usongshine Nema 17 bipolar step motor for printer extruders and CNC, 1A 13Ncm 17HS4023 in a 5 pack.
Fit for the job 8/10 · Features and specs 7/10 · Build and materials 7/10 · Value 8/10
- + Low 1A current keeps motors cool on lightweight extruders
- + Bipolar design works with every common stepper driver
- + 5 Pack price is cost effective for multi-extruder builds
- - Low torque limits use to geared extruders and light loads
- - Same motor as the Titan listing, so compare price per pack
Before you buy: trade-offs we flagged
No pick is perfect. These are the main compromises we noted for the top products in this guide, so you can check they will not matter for you.
- Cable connector should be checked against your board's pinout (Usongshine Nema 17 Stepper Motor 42BYGH 1.8...)
- Longer, heavier motors add weight when used on moving toolheads (Usongshine 5pcs Nema17 Stepper Motor 48MM...)
- A bent screw means replacing the whole motor assembly (Usongshine Nema17 Stepper Motor 17HS4401 with...)
- Check whether a matching cable is included before ordering (Usongshine Nema 17 Stepper Motor 1.5A...)
- Gearbox adds weight and length to a direct drive toolhead (Usongshine Nema 17 Geared Stepper Motor Gear...)
- 13Ncm torque is too low for direct ungeared extrusion (Usongshine Nema 17 Stepper Motor for Titan...)
Frequently asked questions
›What is the best choice among nema 17 stepper motors?
Usongshine Nema 17 Stepper Motor 42BYGH 1.8 Degree 38MM 1.5A 17HS4401S 42N.cm with Cable is our top overall pick. Usongshine Nema 17 stepper motor 42BYGH, 1.8 degree, 38MM body, 1.5A 17HS4401S rated 42N.cm with cable. It earns our score of 8.8/10, based on fit for the job, features, build and value.
›What is a good budget option?
Usongshine 5pcs Nema17 Stepper Motor 48MM 42BYGH 1.7A 17HS8401 4-Lead for 3D Printer CNC is the strongest low-cost pick in this guide. Usongshine 5pcs Nema17 stepper motors, 48MM 42BYGH at 1.7A, 17HS8401 4-lead for 3D printers and CNC.
›How much should I expect to spend?
Picks in this guide span See on Amazon price bands (roughly: $ = under $30, $$ = $30 to $100, $$$ = over $100). We never display exact prices because they change constantly, so the buttons above always show Amazon's current price.
›How were these products chosen?
We shortlist products that fit the job this guide solves and compare their published specifications, such as size, capacity, materials and what is included. Each pick gets an editorial score out of 10 for fit, features, build and value, and we write the pros and cons from those details. Our score is not an Amazon customer rating. We earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never affects the ranking.
Filament Print Lab independently selects every product; we may earn a commission from links above.
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